The Ferryman's Last Crossing

Lyrics

Grey water, grey morning, the rope in my hand
Forty years of crossing from the land to the land
I knew every ripple, I knew every name
Of the folk on the bench who came and came

The schoolchildren waved and then they grew tall
Brought their own children to the rail by the wall
I never made speeches, I never kept score
Just tied up the boat and I opened the door

So take me across one more time
Slow and steady, line by line
I don't need a medal, I don't need a song
Just the quiet of knowing I got you along
One more crossing, then I'll lay down the rope
And I'll stand on the shore with a heart full of hope

The kettle is warm in the little wheelhouse
The gulls keep their counsel, the engine's a mouse
A woman says thank you, a man tips his cap
And that is the whole of my honour, that's that

So take me across one more time
Slow and steady, line by line
I don't need a medal, I don't need a song
Just the quiet of knowing I got you along
One more crossing, then I'll lay down the rope
And I'll stand on the shore with a heart full of hope

Somebody else will stand at the wheel
Somebody else will learn how it feels
When the far bank turns gold in the early light
And everyone's home and the day turns right

So take me across one more time
Slow and steady, line by line
I don't need a medal, I don't need a song
Just the quiet of knowing I got you along
One more crossing, then I'll lay down the rope
And I'll stand on the shore, and I'm proud, and I'm home

Grey water, gold morning, the rope on the stone
Forty years of crossing, and I'm walking home